To commemorate National Public Lands Day, the National Park Service will host Camp Nelson Volunteer Day at Camp Nelson National Monument in Nicholasville. The event will be on Saturday, Sept. 27 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
National Public Lands Day is the nation’s single-largest volunteer day for public lands. During the last Saturday of every September, national parks will create events to celebrate National Public Lands Day. For Camp Nelson National Monument, the Volunteer Day works as their way of including the local community in protecting and appreciating the park.
Although the park was created in 2018, and only became fully staffed in 2021, the rangers have worked hard to care for the park and involve the local community. The Volunteer Day is an event they have planned and hosted every single year since becoming staffed and operated.
“It’s a great way to engage with community members, partners and visitors alike, and do something in the park,” explained ranger Steve Phan, Chief of Interpretation, Education and Visitor Services.
In the past, there have been several activities volunteers have taken part in during the event. Whether it was removing or installing fences, or painting cannon carriages, the community would come out every year to support.
“Especially with us as a new national park, it’s been really fulfilling to have regulars that are coming back now that are helping us at every single Volunteer Day,” Phan expressed.
This year, though, they are doing something unique.
The park is cultivating their first pollinator garden. According to the National Park Service, the garden will contain 23 different types of long-lasting, resilient wildflowers that are native to Kentucky. The new flowers will provide a nutrient-rich source of food for Kentucky’s pollinators and will help protect the biodiversity of the different keystone species.
Since volunteers will be planting, community members are encouraged to wear pants, shirts and closed-toed shoes that they are comfortable with getting dirty. People are also advised to bring sunscreen. The event is free and open to the public, and all the tools, including latex gloves, will be provided.
“People visit parts differently,” said Phan. “Some people come out here and walk the trails, others are here for the history, especially the Civil War history, and others are here for recreation. These parks are for everyone, so that’s why we’re doing this event.” For more information regarding the event, students can visit both the Wilmore events website and The National Park Service website.
Photo courtesy of VisitLex.
